52Chapter 11
Chapter 11:
Harry's POV
He could feel eyes on him as the first years seem to notice both him and Malfoy, but so far none of them got up the courage to speak to the obviously older boys, and Harry wasn't really in the mood to talk to anyone. He was thinking over what Malfoy said, would it really be that easy, just ask the hat to place him in Gryffindor again.
"Good evening." His eyes snapped open at the sound of all to familiar voice. "My name is Professor McGonagall, if you would please follow me, we can get the sorting started. Mister Ellis and Mister Hallow please come to the front as you will be sorted first." Harry shuffled through the small army of first years to stand at the front and relaxed a little when Malfoy moved
to stand next to him.
Harry couldn't help but feel a swell of happiness as they entered the Great Hall, seeing the familiar magicked sky and floating candles along with all the students seated at the four long tables. Made him feel like he was home, even if it wasn't truly the same, it was still Hogwarts.
He tried not to look over at the Gryffindor table as he walked towards the front of the room, where he could see the hat, resting on a stool but he did. It didn't take him long to spot Remus, and he stumbled when he saw the black-haired man whispering excitedly in the werewolf's ear.
Sirius must have felt his gaze on him, because his young godfather looked his way and gave him a wink when he saw Harry staring at him. The feeling of longing that small stupid gesture caused had him sucking in a breath and he forced himself to move his eyes along the table.
He easily found the two people he was dreading and dying to see, on the right side of Remus sat a dark-haired boy with glasses talking to a red headed girl. She had her hear thrown back in a laugh and the boy's face looked like he was watching the greatest thing in the world.
He wasn't aware he had stopped walking until a hand wrapped around his arm and he was tugged forward. He ripped his eyes away from his parents and snuck a quick look at Malfoy. The blonde's face was smooth and neutral like nothing about this was affecting him at all, but the tight grip on Harry's arm said otherwise.
They finally reached the end of the long walk, maybe it was only long to him, but it had felt longer than it should have.
"Mister Hallow," Professor McGonagall said. "If you would?" She waved her hand towards the hat, and with a small bit of dread, Harry felt Malfoy let go of his arm. Then he watched as the blonde walked up and sat on the stool.
It was just like first year, McGonagall lowered the hat and before it even touched Malfoy's head it shouted out, "Slytherin." The blonde smirked and Harry gave him a grin. Then he watched as the Slytherin made his way over to his table.
"Mister Ellis, your turn." He nodded to the professor and sat on the stool. He tried not to show his panic as she lowered the hat on to his head.
"Interesting…." He heard the hat's voice in his head and he was reminded of his first year.
"Please Gryffindor." He thought back to the hat, "I need to be in there."
"Are you sure?" the hat asked. "You could do great things in Slytherin." The familiar words sent shivers down his spine.
"Yes" he thought back at the hat determined.
"Very well," the hat replied in his mind, the shouted out loud, "Gryffindor!"
Harry shagged in relief and jumped off the stool before the hat could change its mind. He quickly made his way towards his table. A strange feeling hit him as he did. His friends weren't here. He wouldn't sit between Hermione and Neville. Ron wouldn't be across from him muttering about the food or auguring with Ginny about Quidditch. His steps faltered. Where the hell was he supposed to sit?
He looked across the hall towards the Slytherin table. Malfoy had sat at the end next to an older student leaving room for the first years that would soon be joining them. So, he figured he would do the same.
He started moving again, towards the end but an arm reached out and grabbed him.
"Sit with us," an excited voice said, and he was all but dragged down between two bodies.
"Sirius." He recognized Lupin scolding his godfather and he smiled. It was familiar and
reminded him that while his friends and well ex friends weren't here, he wasn't completely alone.
"I'm Sirius," the grey eyed boy that dragged him down said, sticking his hand out."
"Evan," he said shaking the hand.
"So, we've never had a transfer before?" His young godfather raised an eyebrow.
He chuckles. "We," he said pointing out Malfoy, "were homeschooled."
"Really, that must have been hard?" a new voice said, and he looked past Lupin at the green-eyed girl smiling at him. She looked so much prettier then she had in the photos he had seen.
"It…" He cleared his throat, "It wasn't too bad but I'm excited to be here."
"Are you two related?" Sirius asked looking over at Malfoy.
"No?" he answered unsure why it was important.
"Good," the Animagus said softly.
"Good?" he asked.
"Sirius," Remus said in a deep voice. Like he was trying to stop his friend for doing or saying something wrong.
His godfather opened his mouth, but Remus elbowed him. Harry watched as the two men had a silent argument. Then Sirius pushed his food away and left the table. There was a sigh before Remus got up and chased after his friend.
Harry looked at his mother. "What was that?"
She looked at his father and then across the table at Pettigrew. The rat of a man shrugged and then looked at his food.
"His brother is in Slytherin. They don't talk much anymore." James's voice was so different then he had imagined. He always pictured the man sounding something like Sirius but in a weird way his father's voice sounded like him.
"Why don't they talk?" he asked, trying to remember if he had heard this before. He knew Sirius's family had been mad when he was sorted into Gryffindor and that his godfather eventually moved in with his father and grandparents, but he couldn't remember Siri talking about his brother.
Again, his parents exchanged looks.
"With the war, there is a lot of tension between the houses here. Sirius's family is always put in Slytherin. His brother views it as a betrayal that he was placed in Gryffindor instead. And Siri, well he thinks his brother is being blind to the people he follows." His father said.
"Oh," was all he could think to say.
After that he let the conversations around him fade into the background as he ate. He wondered what happened to Sirius's brother. He knew he had to have died, otherwise his godfather would have been challenged as head of the Black family. He wondered if he made it home, if he should talk to him about it.
When the dinner was done, James walked besides him telling him about the castle and the tower they lived him. He laughed when he was told about a misadventure his father and Remus had on the moving stairs in their first year. It was nice, and he felt a pain in his chest when he thought about it ending, when they found their way home. The conversation felt sadder after that.
When he was shown into the common room, he asked where his bed was. Stating that he was exhausted and wanted to sleep.
He didn't even change before he crawled into bed. Unaware of uneasy amber eyes following him.